Page 92 of Damien’s Mate

The prince reached down and grabbed Lila’s wrist in a punishing grip. She could feel her bones grinding together.

Then he reached into the bag and put his hand on the artifact case. Blue magic surrounded them.

Lila felt like her guts were being ripped straight out of her. She doubled over, screaming.

Then she heard the furious roar of a lion—a roar she’d know anywhere, even in this crowd of lions.

Damien.

No. Please. He was going to get himself killed.

He leaped out into the courtyard, and was immediately confronted by Lion Guard. The prince broke off his effort to remove her connection to the artifact case, cursing in anger.

“What is this? Bind the creature, and bring it to me!”

Damien fought like a wild thing. He’d totally lost control of his lion, or he’d know this was futile. Lila tried to go to help him, but she could barely struggle to her feet.

Why had he done this? Where were the others? He was throwing his life away.

Damien took down half a dozen Lion Guard, but he had no chance against to many. They threw ropes around him and dragged him before Prince Herrick, dumping him on the ground.

He looked up into her eyes, and she tried to smile at him. Oh, Damien.

The prince reached out his hand, black lightning flickering around it. “Change, Lion, and kneel before me.”

Damien Changed to lion, but he didn’t kneel. He climbed slowly, painfully to his feet, bleeding from a dozen wounds.

She’d never been prouder of him.

“Who are you?” the prince demanded. “Name and rank!”

Lieutenant Commander Rodan stepped forward. “I recognize him, your Highness. He’s not Guard. He’s an earth shifter, an associate of the prisoner.”

Damien said, “I’m her mate. And you can’t keep her here.”

The prince said, “I can. And I will. She is a criminal, attempting to abscond with our artifacts. Perhaps I will show my displeasure by forcing her to watch me kill you. Or perhaps, I’ll allow you watch me take my pleasure with her.”

Damien snarled at him, and the prince’s second stepped forward and backhanded him across the face.

Lila winced at his pain, but at the same time her mind was working furiously. Surely Damien hadn’t come here alone. The others wouldn’t let him.

And if they’d been captured, someone would have said. But even if they were here, what could they do?

There was no way even the Wild Blood Crew could take down four Draken.

The prince looked down at Lila. “I tire of your defiance,” he said. “Open the case, or I will kill your mate where he stands.”

Lila looked at Damien, bruised and bleeding with wounds he’d taken for her. He’d come for her. The artifacts didn’t matter.

Only he mattered. She’d give up a million artifacts, for even the chance of saving him.

She met his eyes, a question there. He gave her a small nod, like she was doing the right thing. And then he flicked his eyes to the side, beyond the soldiers.

She knew what he meant as clearly as if he’d spoken. The others were here. They had a plan.

And even if their plan didn’t work, she realized, the artifacts had been made for the Lion Guard. Once the case was open, they could use what was inside.

He gave her another nod and the faintest hint of a smile.